Kinkaid emerges as serious title contenders in SPC

Second Baptist head coach Terry Pirtle has his Eagles playing for another league championship.

Second Baptist head coach Terry Pirtle has his Eagles playing for another league championship.

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

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Second Baptist head coach Terry Pirtle has his Eagles playing for another league championship.

Second Baptist head coach Terry Pirtle has his Eagles playing for another league championship.

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

Kinkaid emerges as serious title contenders in SPC

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It's been a slow but steady rebuilding process for the Kinkaid girls volleyball program.

But head coach Jennifer Peyton, now in her fourth season with the Falcons, has Kinkaid in position for its highest Southwest Preparatory Conference showing in recent memory.

A year ago, the Falcons started off 20-0 before fading to a fifth-place finish in the highly competitive South Zone. While Kinkaid eventually won the SPC Division II crown, Peyton felt the Falcons slightly underachieved.

"We just missed the upper division by one spot," Peyton said, "but it was still a pretty good season."

With the SPC dumping the two-division format for a single 12-team bracket with six teams each from the North and South Zones, Peyton said it feels different.

"Actually, I like it better, the fact there can't be two champions," Peyton said. "Our goal is to be top six in the South Zone and see what we can do in the tournament."

Based on its collective talent, Kinkaid should do just fine.

The Falcons are led by sophomore Chinaza Ndee, a returning all-SPC performer. The 6-foot outside hitter is averaging more than seven kills per game to lead Kinkaid. Ndee tallied a season-best 22 kills against Houston Christian.

"Chinaza jumps well and can put the ball away," Peyton said. "She's very offensive-minded and has a chance to play in college."

The other outside hitter is 6-0 senior Lauren Reppert, one of the Falcons' most well-rounded players.

"Lauren is an exceptional player. She can play all six rotations," Peyton said. "Jennifer has been involved in volleyball since she was 8 years old. She has a lot of savvy."

Kinkaid has 5-11 junior Mary Labanowski at right side hitter as well as 6-1 senior Tyjaé Scales and 5-8 senior Ana Matamoros at middle blocker.

Peyton commended Labanowski for her "high volleyball IQ" and is in awe of the skills possessed by Scales and Matamoros, both multi-sport athletes.

"Tyjaé is a fabulous athlete – basketball, volleyball and track and field. She's great at every sport she tries," Peyton said. "Ana is quick, agile and covers the court extremely well."

Next up for the Falcons is the Dallas St. Mark's Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 27. But Kinkaid has several other tune-ups before the SPC meet in early November at Norbuck Park in Dallas.

Football team opens title defense

Kinkaid begins its quest for another championship this week when the Falcons travel to Irving Cistercian at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, in their South Zone opener.

The Falcons (2-2) are the reigning SPC large-school champions.

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Kinkaid file

Steady climb: The Kinkaid girls volleyball team has made significant improvement in Jennifer Peyton's three-plus seasons as head coach. The Falcons, considered a prime contender in the Southwest Preparatory Conference's South Zone, feature sophomore Chinaza Ndee and senior Lauren Reppert at outside hitter, seniors Tyjaé Scales and Ana Matamoros at middle blocker, senior Frances Andrews at setter and senior Emily Ashworth at libero.

Title chase: Coming off an SPC runner-up finish a year ago, expectations are high for the Kinkaid girls cross country team. The Falcons return three all-conference performers – junior Lexie Ammons and seniors Courtney Greer and Natalie Geisler.

Ready to do: The Kinkaid football team, the reigning SPC large-school champion, opens its SPC title defense on the road this week. The Falcons (2-2) will travel to Irving Cistercian at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26.